Snap cap closure



April 14, 1936. J. LEFFERT 2,037,172

' SNAP GAP cLosURE Filed May 20, 1935 I gmc/Mw Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED lSTATI-:s PATENT OFFICE Application May zo, 1935, serial No. 22,452

s claims. (01.221-) My invention relates tol collapsible tubes and closures therefor, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a tube and closure structure which will provide an effective seal against leakage, without the use of a gasket.' f It is also an object of the invention to provide a closure which will prevent loss of any of the contents of the tube upon closing of the closure cap.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an anchorage means for the closure cap of such nature that the cap will retain its alignment with the tube nozzle, even afterextended use.

Additional objects, advantages, and features of invention will be apparent from the. following Figure 1 is a fragmentary portion of a tube and closure constructed inaccordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a 'vertical section thereofp'a portion cf the tube being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 1, slightly reduced, a portion being broken away, illustrating the mounting of the closure cap.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the neck vof the container.` I

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified construction of cap and anchorage stud.

Figure 'l is a fragmentary sectional 'view illustrating one stageof vformation anchorage studI shown in Figure 6. e

tubey I Il having an integrally formed vneck Il. The neck II may have any desired shape and terminates in an inwardly turned annular flange I2 d ening an axial dispensing orifice I3'. The iiange I2 is formed with a plurality of circumscriblng ridges and valleys I4 upon its upper face, which cooperate with similar ridges and valleys I5 formed in the closure I6, these ridges -and valleys functioning to eect a leak-proof closure,'as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. l

Adjacent the juncture of the neck II andthe tube Ill, a depression I1 is provided, extending a short 'distance aroundv the neck, and may bel formedin the neck by approved stamping operations. As shown, a lug I9 is formed at a point,

- as may be seen in Figure 2. It will be noted that diametrically opposite the depression I1 and projects above theinclined wall 2 0 of the tube, and in opposed faces of the lug conically shaped sockets 2I are formed.

Theclosure I6 comprises a`body 22 from which 5 a pair of side plates 23 project forwardly and rearwardly, the function of which will be pres'- ently described. The body'22 stops short of the rear ends of the plates 23 to provide ample clearance for the anchorage lug I9, and'the width 10 of the body 22 is such that the plate members 23 .will be spaced so as to snugly straddle the lug I9. VVAdjacent the rear ends of the plates 23 and upontheir inner opposed faces, conical projections 24 are formed, adapted to seat in respec- 15 tive sockets 2 I Upon the' under side of the body 22 a chamber 25 isformed, substantially the same size as the discharge orice I3, and when the cap is in closed position the chamber is in alignment therewith, 20

the ridges and valleys I5 circumscribe the cham-f ber 25 and are adapted to register with the valleys and ridges I4 previously described. It should also be noted that the body 22 at a rear portion thereof is formed with a shoulder I8 spaced so as to snugly seat upon the side of the upper end ofthe neck II.

The body 22 further includes a downwardly extended flexible leg 26 disposed between the 30 forward ends of the plates 23, the lower end of the leg being inclined slightly withrespect to the cuter wall of the neck I I, The inner face of the leg 2B has formed thereon an 'enlargement or bill 21, adapted to engage with the groove I1 of the 35 neck, and an arm 28 is integrally connected with the leg 26 adjacent the lbill 21. The arm 28 is free at its upper end and is movable between the forward ends of the plates 23, and preferably the outer face of the arm is provided withl a serrated head 29, thereby aifording a suitable gripping surface.

With' thecap in closed position, it will be seen that by virtue cf the registered ridges and valleys an effective seal is provided against leakage of contents of the tube, and further, by provision'of the chamber 25 an air space is established directly over the discharge'orice, so thatl liability of creating a suction through the discharge orifice I3, when opening the closure cap 50 is avoided, thereby precluding waste of material from the tube. Also the chamber 25 will accommodate excess of the contents of the tube, if disy charged from the orice I3.

From tlfe foregoing, it will be'seen that a snap- 55 action closure is provided, the cap being held in closed position by virtue of engagement of the bill 21 with the groove |1, and to eilect release of the bill 21 to open the closure, it is only necessary to exert an inward pressure upon the head 29 which will produce an outward flexing of the leg 26. to exert a downward pressure upon the body 22 until the bill snaps into the groove l1. The rearwardly extending portions of the plates 23 are laterally exible, and as may be noted, during closing action of the closure, the bill 21 will iirst have bearing contact with the forward wall of the neck exerting a pull in a horizontal plane tending to slide the projections a slight distance out of the conical socket 2| againstthe lateral tension of the plates 23, but as soon as the bill 21 has been seated in the recess I1, the projections 24 will be snugly forced into their respective sockets and retained therein by the resilient action of the plates 23. By the construction thus provided, the closure may readily adjust itself to the neck, and also wear between the projections 24 and sockets 2| will be automatically taken up, so that a snug fitting closure is provided, regardless of the length of usage.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated a modined construction of cap and its manner of mounting, and attention is now vdirected to this gure, wherein the tube is illustrated by the reference character 3U and with which there is integrally formed a neck 3|, having a discharge orice 32. The cap 33 and the upper planiform facev of the neck 3| include registering ridges and valleys, as described in the rst form of the device. The tcp wall 34 of the tube has a portion 35 raised approximately to a point intermediate the height of the neck 3 |','and at the rear of this raised portion 35, a split loop 36 is formed. The loop 36 is formed as a strap member, the ends of which may be readily bent toward and snugly contacting each other, and the outer side faces of which are formed to provide the conical sockets, as described in the rst forni of the device.

The cap 33 comprises a pair of plates 31, spaced and of a length so as to straddle the loop 38 with the cones 38 in seated engagement with' respective sockets, and the opposite end of the cap has a downward extension 39 adjacent the. base of which an enlarged bill 40 is formed so positioned as to have snap contact with a groove 4| formed at the base of the neck 3|. The extension 39 terminates in a curved nger 811D 42. This form or the device includes an air chamber 43 as previously described and preferably the neck 3| is formed with. a rounded edge 44, and the under face of the cap is similarly formed so that a. snug t between the cap and neck is established.

While I have shown and described preferredv constructions of my tube and cap, I am well aware that modications may be readily made, and I therefore consider as my own, all such variations as fairly fall within the scope o! the appended claims.

I claimz- ,V

1. In a container and closure, a neck having an inturned ange defining a discharge oriilce, said iiange having upstanding ridges circumscribing the oriilce, a closure cap hingedly mounted upon the container and swingable to a-position over the discharge orifice, said cap having ridges complementa] to the rst named ridges, and releasable fastening means between the cap and the container.

To close the cap, it is only necessary 3. In a container and closure, a neck on the container 'having an inturned flange defining a discharge orifice, an upstanding lug on the container, said lug having oppositely disposed recesses, a closure hingedly mounted in the recesses and swingable to a position over the discharge orifice, an air space in the cap adapted to register with the discharge orice, a groove formed in the neck of the container, a resilient 'leg member on the closure, said leg having a lip for locking engagement with the groove, and ngeractuated means for springing the leg to release the lip from the groove.

4. In a container and closure, said container having a neck including a discharge oriice, an upstanding recessed lug on the container, a closure for the discharge orifice, said closure comprising a pair of plate members spaced to receive the lug therebetween, a conical bearing member on each of the plates and journalled in the respective recesses of the lug, a body member formed between the plates, a recess in the body member adaptedto align with the discharge orifice, said body having a downwardly extended resilient leg member and an upwardly and outwardly extended arm member, a groove formed in the neck of the container, and said leg member having' a' lip for snap engagement with the groove.

5. In a container and closure, ysaid container having a neck including a discharge oriice, an

upstanding recessed lug on the, container, a closure for the discharge orifice', said closure comprising a pair of plate members spaced to receive the lug therebetween, a conical bearing member on each of the plates and journalled in the respective recesses of the lug, a body member formed between the plates, a recess in the body member adapted to align with the discharge prince, said body having a downwardly extended resilient leg member and an upwardly and outwardly extended arm member, said arm member having a serrated head member, a groove formed in the neck of 'the container, said leg member having a lip for snap engagement with the groove, and said plate members substantially overlapping said leg and arm members. 6. In a container and closure, the' container having a neck including va discharge oriilce, a lug on the container having oppositely conical sockets, a cap, said cap having sea engagement with the neck for closing the dis- .charge oriilce, a pair of laterally ilexible plate members on the cap, said plates being of a length to straddle the lug, each plate having a conicalshaped bearing/ for seating engagement in the respective conical sockets, aleg member on the cap, said leg member having camming action with a portion of the neck, whereby to shift the 'cap to permit adjustment of the cap to the neck, said neck having a groove, and said leg'having means engageable with the groove-for holding the cap in closed position.

JULrUs 

